What’s the delay? For sports fans, it’s a big pain

From the sports desk, before the football season is officially under way, speaking on behalf of all of us who bring a radio to the game, please take your station “out of delay” during the game.

Hearing the action being described 10 to 15 seconds after it happens is not acceptable. It’s also causing fewer people to listen to radio while at the game, or watching it on TV with the sound turned down.

Ever since the days of the late Bob Ufer, radio audio is always better than the guys on TV, especially for college games.

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Speaking of sports, as Howard Cosell used to say, if you listened to “Parker and the Man” on WKRK-FM (97.1), you can still hear them nightly 9 p.m. till midnight over on the AM dial on WCHB-AM (1200). It’s a reasonably strong signal, even after dark.

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It’s time for another round of musical chairs on the Detroit urban radio scene.

Back in March, Skip Dillard left his post at Radio One, which owns and operates a trio of black stations in Motown including WDMK-FM (105.9), WHTD-FM (102.7) and WCHB-AM 1200. Finally slipping into Skip’s vacated chair is Al Payne, transferring in from Radio One in Richmond, Va.

This rotation of management was done by Jay Stevens, Radio One VP of programming content, whose old PD job at Washington, D.C.’s legendary WPGC-FM was taken by Dillard from Detroit.

If you can follow all of this, you’re better than I am. Al (I’m feeling no) Payne starts his new job in the Motor City on Aug. 13.

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In a surprise move, Ron Chatman, music director and head of digital programming for country WYCD-FM (99.5), just left the station for personal reasons. It’s a real loss for the station, which has achieved great ratings. The number of African-Americans in country radio are few and far between, and Ron is one of the best. We wish him well.

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While listening to a provocative talk show, hosted by its program director, Darryl Parks, on Cincinnati’s 700 WLW on XM’s 173, he applauded Pepsi-Cola for finally coming clean on the contents of its bottled water brand Aquafina.

The label now says “PWS,” which does not stand for Paul W. Smith. It reveals that the H2O inside is actually from a Public Water Source, aka tap water. So, while we complain about the price of a gallon of gas, some of us are paying a lot more for bottled tap water.

This same program also accused the viewing and listening audience of killing the four victims of that terrible double helicopter crash in Phoenix. Sadly, it took the life of former WXYZ-Channel 7 pilot/reporter Craig Smith, whose brother, Brian, still works at the Southfield-based station, oddly enough in Chopper 7.

Such tragedies will no doubt cause broadcasters to seriously re-evaluate the risks often taken for the sake of ratings and revenue. TV is guiltier of such practices than radio.

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Recently, sportscaster legend Bill Flemming passed away after a fight with prostate cancer at his home Up North in Petoskey. He was 80 years old.

Flemming started his career at the University of Michigan’s WUOM-FM (91.7) in 1949 and served as the voice of the Wolverines on WWJ-AM (950) in the 1950s. He later joined NBC television and then ABC, where he made a name for himself on “Wide World of Sports” and Olympics coverage.

Michigan football fans will always remember his coverage of the UM-Ohio State game in 1969 with analyst Lee Grosscup.

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We also lost another great broadcaster who had roots in radio during his college days at Marquette University in Milwaukee. Tom Snyder died at 71 after a two-year battle with leukemia.

After “The Tomorrow Show,” which followed Johnny Carson, ended nearly 20 years ago, Snyder went on to do a popular late-night talk show on network radio for ABC.

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Recommended reading is a new must-have book for all onair talent and those wanting to better understand the kind of money broadcasters earn or are often denied. “$everance” was written by former radio show producer Rick Kaempfer and examines the topic in an entertaining and humorous format that makes it an easy read. The Chicago Tribune called it “an hysterical critique of corporate morality.”

Lastly, did anyone from Oldies WOMC-FM (104.3) check out the crowds at the Novi ’50s Festival? Jammin’ to the music of Hermit’s Hermits and Freddie Cannon, they would note that today’s young people love yesterday’s music ... even songs that date back before the Beatles.

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Set your dials: Tom Wilson will again feature the songs of the World War II era on his “Somewhere in Time” program 6 p.m. today over on WMUZ-FM (103.5) and WRDT-AM (560).

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2 Comments

I agree with Art, there are a lot of good rock-n roll records from the 50's by the Big Bopper, Rick Nelson, Bobby Darrin,Buddy Holly, Duane Eddy. I am sick of thesen tight playlists, let's get some creativity and let the jocks spin what they want. Everything is so packaged these days.